Mama Olie's Musings

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Tuesday Treats

hello hello!

How are you all doing today? I have a few treats for you today...a few things to share and a cute card that I created.

The first little treat I wanted to share is a wonderful video on how to tie bows and knots on your cards. Seems simple but I know I have struggled endless times and from doing Gatherings with bows involved...I know for a fact other people do too! So Dawn McVey has created a great video on how to tie bows...and let me tell you, if you haven't checked out her blog and work before, you are missing out! She is one of my fav card designers out there. I have linked her name above directly to the post...but be sure to check out the rest of her blog when you have some time...wonderful, wonderful!

Second is a little promo CTMH is running this month for National Papercrafting Month. There is an exclusive kit for sale that you can check out here, but the most fabulous part is the daily blog they have started with tips, techniques and a chance to win a free kit each day! Check out the daily fun at www.nationalpapercraftingmonth.blogspot.com! and if you haven't snuck a peak at CTMH's newest Idea Book you are in luck, just click on the Idea Book cover to the right of this post!

Ok...so now for the crafty goodness. Kelsey came home from school yesterday wearing a pretty beaded necklace one of her classmates had made for her. She set to work with her Pixo machine and bead kit creating a masterpiece in return and asked if I would make her a thank you card to go with it (I am raising that one right!) so I gladly took the excuse to start creating. I was going to save the card to post the firt week of February when I will be showcasing The Unity Stamp Co. stamps all week long (with blog candy!) but I just couldn't wait...plus that gives me more excuses to create (but who needs that...right!). So I will leave you today with this cute little Tuesday Treat....enjoy!

the goods: stamps ~ Mix up of Cuteness (Owl), Following My Heart Aug 09 KOTM (Branch) - Unity Stamp Co.; patterned paper ~ Basic Grey; Cardstock ~ Dessert Sand, Cocoa, Crystal Blue, White Daisy - CTMH; ink ~ Cocoa - CTMH; markers ~ Hollyhock, Honey, Crystal Blue, Oak Brown - CTMH; ribbon ~ Blush Polka Dot (ret) - CTMH.

Tootles ~

Tracy

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Officially NOT New Year's Resolutions....

Warning...long, long, long post!

Eek! Was my last post seriously December 3rd? I can't believe I have been silent so long...but the whirlwind of the Christmas season swept me off my feet and literally pulled me under. I was up to my ears in shopping, baking, decorating, wrapping, visiting and enjoying this glorious season.

So this being December 29th, I guess if I post some of my upcoming goals, they cannot be considered New Year's Resolutions. The mere fact that I am starting on them now also qualifies them as officially NOT New Year's Resolutions. Not to mention that these were the same goals that I committed myself to in the beginning of 2009....so, doing it at the end of 2009 just means I am keeping the momentum going (or re-starting!)

Anywhoo...last year I posted 16 goals. Things I really wanted to work on during the year, things to accomplish to make my life happier, simpler and more meaningful. Most of them fizzled quickly, some received a bit of tweaking, but this time around I am committed and will update here weekly just to keep me on track. Here are the goals from 2009:

Loose (and keep off) the weight - lost a little, but basically the same 5 lbs all year.
Finish the house (decorating and updating that is) - Big fat nope, but did get a new room due to the great roof collapse of 2009!
Get organized - Double big fat nope, but my piles are at least a bit more organized
Keep a clean(er) house (one I can relax in & be proud of) - started, stopped, and failed at this
Enjoy everyday, record the memories & take pleasure in the little things - improved
Focus on family - improved
Get rid of the clutter (ok, that goes with cleaning & organizing...but trust me, it needs its own bullet) - LMAO! Did I really write that?
Credit cards are for emergencies...CASH only! - Accomplished this! Yeah.
Be a better mom & wife - think I improved, most of the time...still need some work
Pay down some debt (long term...debt free by 2011) - Under control
Breathe...don't yell! Umm...yeah
Complete 100 layouts in 2009... not even close
Be happy with me... getting better
Let it go....RELAX!... ditto
Project 365 (1 picture a day)...if only I knew how to work my camera
Work CTMH smarter...not harder...accomplished

So with 2009 almost behind us and most of my goals in progress or failed, 2010 will be a continuation of the old and a fresh start of these goals that I truly feel will improve my well being (and consequently those around me). Here is my master list of the 14 goals I would like to focus on going forward....

Loose (and keep off) the weight (this is the year!)
Finish the house (decorating and updating that is)
Get organized
Keep a clean(er) house (one I can relax in & be proud of)
Enjoy everyday, record the memories & take pleasure in the little things
Focus on family
Get rid of the clutter (ok, that goes with cleaning & organizing...but trust me, it needs its own bullet)
Be a better mom & wife
Continue paying off debt and using Cash only!
Breathe...don't yell!
Complete 100 layouts in 2009
Be happy with me
Let it go....RELAX!
Project 365 (1 picture a day)

So bear with me as I will be using my blog to keep me on track this year. Look for little updates here and there, mixed in with the usual ramblings (and more of them). I also have a few little surprises coming up including some blog candy and a week long showcase of Unity Stamps the first week of February.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year.

Tracy

Thursday, December 3, 2009

CTMH Online Clearance Sale

While many of you may know that I am a consultant for Close To My Heart, I don't always openly push or promote it on my blog as I really want my blog to be more personal...less business...a collection of all things crafty (as I will be the first to admit I use many companies' products, I just happen to sell CTMH products). I do however feel it is my obligation to share with everyone a great opportunity when I see it and this is one of those times.

CTMH is currently having an online clearance sale with lots of great product on sale at INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS LOW PRICES! Stamp sets from $2...paper packets from $5 and tons of accessories and embellishments too. Plus a grab bag of over $100 in product for $30!

The sale runs 12/2 - 12/17 and only while supplies last. Orders over $100 will be charge $5 in shipping (orders under will be charged by weight). There are still some incredible deals left but take advantage of it before all the good stuff is gone!

To see all the deals please visit my CTMH site.

Please be patient as the site may be a bit slow at times due to hordes of other eager shoppers attempting to snag a deal.

Happy shopping,

Tracy

Monday, November 30, 2009

December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the beginning of another month and another CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! If I am just one stop along your journey I hope you are finding some inspiration for this month's stamp set. If I am starting your journey off today - welcome, sit back, relax and enjoy! You will find a link to the next blog after my projects.

This month's stamp set is Notice the Details (D1378), a wonderfully versatile collection of 41 stamps including images and sentiments. This set is wonderful for scrapbookers and stampers alike. For more info on this set, including how you can earn it for free or at a terrific discount, please click here or contact me. To order this set simply drop me an email or shop online!

Here is the set:

and here is just the beginning of what I did with it. These 2 cards are just too cute and wonderful to send to a friend "just because". I also have some wonderful scrappy pages in mind for this set...now to find those pics (and I promise to post the pages when they are complete).

and here is a close up...notice the detail (he! he!):

I hope I gave you some inspirational mojo! I would love to hear from you so leave me some love! Now hop on over to Shirley Ross to see what she has in store for you!

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Tracy

"Today" supplies: Stamp Set ~ Notice the Details, Cardstock ~ Desert Sand, Colonial White (bottom card), White Daisy (top card); Ink ~ Dessert Sand, Cranberry, Black; Ribbon ~ Designer Ribbon Rounds Holiday Collection (retired).

December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop List

Sunday, November 1, 2009

November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hey there!!!

Can you believe that it is November already??? It seems as if October just flew by (being a long month and all). Hoping this post finds you & your family healthy...the flu went through the kids earlier this week, I have been diligent about prevention for me...as mommy is not allowed to be sick!

November 1st means Blog Hop the CTMH way! Yeah! This month we are featuring the November Stamp of the Month ~ Around the Block (D1377). This great little stamp set is only available until November 30 so contact me...or your CTMH consultant if you are interested in adding it to your collection.

I have a card for y'all today, eventhough I can envision these stamps on a page as well, which is what I originally had planned for today. But, darned if I could find the pictures of our house that I have been putting off scrapbooking until the perfect stamp came along to embellish my page...now I have the set, and the pictures are gone...oh well, I must move on.

Products (all CTMH): Stamps ~ Around the Block (D1377); Patterned Paper ~ Emporium Level 2 (X7105B); Cardstock ~ Cocoa, Vanilla Cream; Ribbon ~ Cocoa; Ink ~ Cocoa, Buttercup; Markers ~ Crystal Blue, Vineyard Berry, Honey; Other ~ sponge, punch (EK Success).

From here you need to continue on to Jena's blog. This is one big circle so no matter where you start you will circle through all of the blogs. If you get lost or hit a broken link along the way scroll down to my previous post for the master list.

Thanks for visiting and I would love to hear from you!

Tracy

about my blog....

My blog is ever revolving and that being said, you never know what you might find. From day to day you might find the rantings and ravings of an overstressed mom desperately seeking some peace and organization in my chaotic life, pics and updates of my kids and family outings, or peeks into my passions...cooking, scrapping and stamping! This is the place to find a hodge podge of everything...well, me.

If you are here to check out my creative stuff, please look and feel free to lift (after all, I probably lifted it first), but please only for personal use and give credit where credit is due.

If you like what you see - please let me know and come back for more! I would love to hear from you.

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